Forget the Twinkie, it’s all about the chocolate cupcake

Suggesting the Twinkie is Hostess is like saying Derek Jeter is the Yankees. Sure, the Twinkie is well-loved and successful — a force in the wrapped-snack world. People fry it and dip it and even try to copy it. But, really, the Twinkie is second string on my shopping list.

What I will really miss from the Hostess collection are those chocolate cupcakes with the white swirl on top.

I love puncturing the perforation in the box and peeling back the cellophane on the two-pack of treats to unveil the sweet smell of dessert. The moist goodness of the chocolate cake, juxtaposed with the creamy, white filling is snack Nirvana.

Sure, I know those sweet bits are loaded with fat and sugar and preservatives — but that’s what makes them so wonderful.

As a kid, my mom limited how often we could have Hostess treats — due to nutritional content and cost. Hostess was purchased only on special occasions (and after Cindy and I did a lot of begging).

Now that I’m on my own dime (with the cholesterol-watching doctor and at the grocery store) I buy the cakes more often than I should. I’ve been known to binge on them, and scoff at the idea that a single package is one serving (silly nutritional guidelines).

I pour a glass of milk and arrange the cakes on a plate. Before that first bite, I wipe my finger across the cardboard lining in the package, assuring I don’t leave even the smallest bit of cake behind.

I’ve tried the replicas — Radio Bars at Bella Napoli and a chocolate-filled cake at a bakery down in New York. But, really, none hit a homerun like my Hostess original.

I’ll miss Twinkies and cupcakes (always eaten from the bottom, to save the frosting for last). But I’ll miss them more for the children who won’t get to try them. For myself, I’ll really miss chocolate Zingers and Drake’s Coffee Cakes. Those were always special treats when I was a kid.

I picked the Fruit Pies because I have had them on the run (gas station staple) more recently than the others, and i don’t like chosing Other… but I cried a few real tears at the thought of not finding Zingers any more (chocolate or raspberry coconut – didn’t matter)

I’ll miss the cupcakes too. Hohos? And the mini muffins and the Twinkies, and coffee cakes and fruit pies. Although in all honesty I haven’t had them since before I turned into a teenager. Except maybe once or twice in college.

Once upon a time, some Snowball tried cream filling a few Chocolate Cupcakes and Ho Hos. But when he saw all of those Honey Buns, his Twinkie turned into a mushy Fruit Pie and he was officially out of business.

Never understood why Twinkies were more synonymous with Hostess than their cupcakes, but it’s probably due to the uniqueness of the Twinkies name. Being middle aged, I can now freely admit that I would have never made it to adulthood without Hostess’ world famous cupcakes. I’ll also admit that I didn’t like when they changed the packaging to that brown plastic cupcake holder. I liked the plain old plastic wrap and little white cardboard. Ahhhh…nostalgia. I think I’ll have some tonight just for old time’s sake. :D

I used to not like the Hostess cupcakes because there was cream inside the cupcake. But after trying the cupcake with the cream for the first time, they were delicious. I can’t believe it’s the end of Hostess. Time to stock up on packaged snack treats!

Hey Amanda #19. Have you tried a Sweet Sues cupcakes? That is a REAL chocolate cupcake! Real chocolate in the frosting and a true chocolate ganache suprise in the middle. Of course the cupcake is a nice chocolate too.